Waynesville – Gary S. Peifer, 81, of Waynesville, passed away at his home on July 28, 2025.
Cremation Rites have been accorded. No services are planned at this time.
Gary S. Peifer was born April 3, 1944, in Bloomington, the son of Raymond H. and Leona M. Ruble Peifer. He married Eva Diane Long on May 22, 1965. She survives.
He is also survived by one son, Mike S. Peifer and one daughter, Jacquiline M. Peifer; three grandchildren: Tyler (Emily) Peifer, Kayla (Cooper) Elam, and Dee Peifer; two great-grandsons; one brother, Ronald (Jolene) Peifer; and one sister, Marsha (Charles) Runge.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents.
Gary was a 1962 graduate of McLean-Waynesville High School. He retired from Caterpillar after 38 years where he had worked as a mechanical and electrical design engineer. He patented 13 designs. Gary was a former Mayor of Waynesville and Village Trustee. He enjoyed ancestral research and mapped cemetery ancestry in Waynesville and Atlanta, in addition to mapping the Peifer family tree.
Gary also enjoyed antique autos and had recently restored a 1950 Ford pickup truck.
Memorials can be made to the Waynesville Township Library, 303 2nd St, Waynesville 61778.
Quiram-Peasley Funeral Home of Atlanta is assisting the family.
One Response
My condolences to your family. I worked with Gary for a few years here at Caterpillar, and have very fond memories of our time working together. As a young engineer, Gary helped me learn many of the tools and processes that I have used throughout my career. One of his lasting legacies was to implement and pioneer the use of a lightweight design tool, and these days we now use that tool as the foundation of nearly everything we do. I have tremendous respect for Gary and I am saddened to hear we have lost him.